Contents sales method and cyber mall system using such method and storage medium storing therein its contents sales program

ABSTRACT

A cyber mall system has a contents sales apparatus for selling digital contents, a contents purchasing apparatus, and a network for connecting these components. When digital contents are registered into the contents sales apparatus, digital contents personal using conditions are generated on the basis of digital contents using conditions and are provided to a customer. If the digital contents are again purchased after the delivery of the digital contents fails, as long as the digital contents personal using conditions provided at the time of purchase are valid, the digital contents are again delivered without again collecting a digital contents value.

CROSS-REFERENCES

This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/799,653, filed Mar. 15, 2004,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,457,780, which is a continuation application of U.S.Ser. No. 09/618,552, filed Jul. 17, 2000 (abandoned), which is acontinuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/244,050 filed Feb. 4, 1999,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,318, which are hereby incorporated by referenceand which claim priority to JP 10-025356, filed Feb. 6, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a contents sales method, a cyber mallsystem using such a method, and a storage medium in which its contentssales program has been stored.

With a spread of the Internet, a cyber mall based on the World-Wide Web(WWW) becomes possible to be established. In the cyber mall, in additionto articles, digital contents are also sold at present. The digitalcontents indicate a kind of contents (work) such as image file, audiofile, software, or Web page of the WWW which can be delivered via anetwork.

There are two kinds of purchasing methods of the digital contents. Thefirst method is a method of delivering a copy of purchased digitalcontents to a computer of a customer. According to the purchasingmethod, since the digital contents are delivered via the network, thereis a possibility that the delivery fails. When the delivery of thedigital contents fails, usually, the customer needs to re-execute thepurchasing process. In the case where the purchase price has beenalready paid, however, it is purchase price has been already paid,however, it is necessary to enable the purchasing process to bere-executed without paying the purchase price again.

For example, in ASCII Digital Novels (http colon slash slash www dotascii dot co dot ip slash hirai slash) from which a novel can bepurchased in a document file on a chapter unit basis, when a download ofthe document file fails, if the customer re-purchases it within 72 hoursafter the purchase, the customer is not billed again.

Similarly, in “gu-antanya” (http colon slash slash shop dot aplix dot codot ip slash shops slash apiapan) from which images can be purchased ona file unit basis, when the download of an image file fails, if thecustomer re-purchases it within 72 hours after the purchase, thecustomer is not billed again. The re-purchase can be executed up tothree times only.

In “buydirect.com” (http colon slash slash www dot buydirect dot corn)from which software can be purchased by on-line, when the download ofsoftware fails, if the customer re-purchases it within 30 days after thepurchase, the customer is not billed again. Basically, the re-purchasecan be executed up to three times only. When the re-purchase fails threetimes, if the customer informs customer service of such a fact, thenumber of times downloading can be made is increased.

According to the second method, the customer views the purchased digitalcontents via a WWW browser. According to such a purchasing method, whenan access to a WWW page displaying the digital contents fails, thedigital contents cannot be viewed. If the digital contents are, however,those of a regular subscription type like a subscription of a newsservice, there is no additional charge even if the contents are viewedagain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the conventional techniques, in a procedure forre-purchasing digital contents when the delivery of the digital contentsfails, the number of times the re-delivery can be executed and a periodduring which the re-purchase can be performed are limited, which createsproblems for the customer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cyber mall systemin which even if a delivery of purchased digital contents fails, at thetime of re-purchase of the digital contents, the digital contents aredelivered again only by selecting the digital contents in which theredelivery is desired without re-paying a goods price and re-inputtingcustomer information.

In order to solve the above problems, first, using conditions of digitalcontents are provided. The using conditions of the digital contentsdenote restricting conditions of an access to the digital contents mainbody and matters that require attention upon access.

As restricting conditions of access to the digital contents, there arean access control on a cyber mall server side and a physical actrestriction on a cyber mall client side. For example, in the accesscontrol on the cyber mall server side, the period and number of times ofaccesses to the purchased digital contents are limited. As a physicalact restriction on the cyber mall client side, there is an act which canbe performed to the digital contents, for example, an act restrictionwhich can be forcedly controlled on the cyber mall client side forprinting and copying.

As matters that require attention upon access to the digital contents,there is a logical act control restriction on the cyber mall clientside. The logical act control restriction on the cyber mall client sideincludes matters that require attention regarding the use of the digitalcontents, for example, an act restriction for a secondary use or acommercial use which cannot be controlled on the cyber mall client sideand can be executed only by the law (that is, gentleman's agreement).

A value that the customer pays when the customer purchases the digitalcontents is associated with the digital contents. As a value, there arenot only payment of a goods price of the digital contents but also aninput of customer information and an approval to a contract regardingthe use of the digital contents. For example, as customer information,there are a name and an electronic mail address as personal informationof the customer. The contract regarding the use of the digital contentsis an agreement by which the customer agrees to follow a copyright ofthe digital contents and the using conditions of the digital contents.

The using conditions and value are set together with goods attributeswhen a shop manager of a cyber shop defines the digital contents asgoods. By registering different using conditions and different valuesfor certain digital contents, one digital contents can be provided as aplurality of goods.

Further, when the cyber mall server sells the digital contents, inaddition to information of the goods to be sold and information of thecustomer, a digital contents customer generates and accumulates personalusing conditions as a certificate showing that the digital contentscustomer purchased the digital contents on the basis of information inwhich variable portions of the using conditions and value are replacedto definite values.

After the personal using conditions were generated, the cyber mallserver delivers a copy of the sold digital contents to the cyber mallclient. When a physical act restriction on the cyber mall client side isdefined in the digital contents, the physical act restriction is builtin the digital contents and resultant digital contents are delivered.

All of the using conditions of the digital contents and the personalusing conditions are managed on, the cyber mall server side.

When the delivery of the digital contents fails, the digital contentscustomer re-purchases the digital contents. The cyber mall serverretrieves the personal using conditions generated for the digitalcontents which the digital contents customer desires to re-purchase.When the digital contents customer has valid personal using conditionsof the digital contents to be re-purchased, the cyber mall serverre-delivers a copy of the digital contents to the cyber mall clientwithout re-collecting the value of the digital contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a constructional diagram of a digital contents sales cybermall system of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a relation diagram of a processing unit of the digitalcontents sales cyber mall system of the embodiment and a managementtable;

FIG. 3 is an association diagram of digital contents using conditions;

FIG. 4 is an association diagram of digital contents goods definitionattributes;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing steps at the time of definition of digitalcontents goods;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a picture for definition of the digitalcontents goods;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a picture for definition of the digitalcontents using conditions;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated digital contentsgoods management table;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated digital contentsusing condition definition table;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing steps of purchasing digital contents;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing steps of searching an image file to bepurchased;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing steps for a purchase price settlementprocess;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing steps for a digital contents delivery;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for log-in of acyber mall;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of a log-in usertop page;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of an image shoplist;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of an image shoptop page;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of an image list;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for display of anabstract of using conditions of a purchase image;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for display of anagreement of using conditions of a purchase image;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for settlement ofan image purchase price;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for input of animage customer information;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for start of adownloading of a purchase image;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated personal usingcondition table;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated customerinformation management table;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing steps of searching news to be purchased;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of a newssubscribing service list;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of a news servicetop page;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of a news servicelist;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for display of anabstract of using conditions of a purchase news service;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for display of anagreement of using conditions of a purchase news service;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for settlement of anews service purchase price;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for input of newsservice customer information;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a picture for start of aviewing of a purchase news service;

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated personal usingcondition table;

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an entry of a generated customerinformation management table;

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing steps of again purchasing goods; and

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a picture of a purchasedpersonal using condition list.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detailhereinbelow.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a digital contentssales cyber mall system according to the embodiment of the invention.Reference numeral 100 denotes a cyber shop client; and 110 a cyber mallserver; 130 a cyber mall client. Reference numeral 101 denotes digitalcontents; 102 digital contents goods attributes as goods attributes ofthe digital contents 101; 103 a digital contents value as a value of thedigital contents 101; and 104 digital contents using conditions as usingconditions of the digital contents 101. The digital contents goodsattributes 102, digital contents value 103, and digital contents usingconditions 104 are defined when the cyber shop client 100 registersgoods of the digital contents 101 into the cyber mall server 110.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a digital contents goods informationmanagement to manage goods information of the digital contents 101; 112a digital contents using condition information management to manageusing condition information of the digital contents 101; 113 a digitalcontents personal using condition information management to managepersonal using condition information which is allocated to a customer ofthe digital contents 101; 114 a digital contents collection valueinformation management to manage the digital contents value 103 which iscollected at the time of sales of the digital contents 101; 115 a WWWserver; 116 a delivery article in which physical act restrictioninformation of the digital contents 101 has been built in the digitalcontents 101; and 117 a down-loader to generate a delivery article.Reference numeral 131 denotes a WWW browser and 132 indicates a viewerto display the delivery article 116. The viewer 132 is controlled by thephysical act restriction information of the digital contents 101 builtin the delivery article 116.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relation between a processing unitof the digital contents sales cyber mall system as an embodiment of theinvention and a management table. Reference numeral 100 denotes thecyber shop client; 201 an input apparatus of the cyber shop client 100;202 an input processing unit for processing an input from the inputapparatus 201; 203 an output apparatus of the cyber shop client 100; and204 an output processing unit for processing an output to the outputapparatus 203.

Reference numeral 110 denotes the cyber mall server; 211 a digitalcontents goods definition processing unit to define the digital contentsgoods attributes 102 and digital contents value 103; 212 a digitalcontents using condition definition processing unit to define thedigital contents using conditions 104; 213 a digital contents goodsmanagement table to accumulate goods definition information of thedigital contents 101; 214 a digital contents using condition table toaccumulate the digital contents using conditions 104; 215 a digitalcontents personal using condition definition processing unit to generatepersonal using conditions of the digital contents 101; 216 a digitalcontents value collection processing unit to collect the digitalcontents value 103; 217 a digital contents personal using conditionmanagement table to accumulate the personal using conditions of thedigital contents 101; 218 a customer information management table toaccumulate digital contents customer information as one of the digitalcontents value 103; 219 a digital contents personal using conditionretrieval processing unit to retrieve the digital contents personalusing condition management table 217; 220 a page template informationtable to accumulate a page template to generate an input/output page;and 221 a page template processing unit to generate the input/outputpage from the page template information table 220.

Reference numeral 130 denotes the cyber mall client; 231 an inputapparatus of the cyber mall client 130; 232 an input processing unit forprocessing an input from the input apparatus 231; 233 an outputapparatus of the cyber mall client 130; and 234 an output processingunit to process an output to the output apparatus 233.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a dependency relation amongthe digital contents using conditions 104. Reference numeral 300 denotesan access control on the cyber mall server 110 side; 310 a physical actrestriction on the cyber mall client 130 side; and 320 a logical actrestriction on the cyber mall client 130 side.

As an access control 300 on the cyber mall server 110 side, there is anaccess period control 301 for the purchased digital contents 101. Inthis example, either a mode to limit an access period or a mode withouta period limitation can be selected. As a physical act restriction 310on the cyber mall client 130 side, there are an “execute” 311 as an actwhich can be performed in a browser non-display type contents such assoftware or the like, “replay” 313 as an act which can be performed in astream type contents; “view” 312 as an act which can be performed in thebrowser display type contents such as an image file or the like, “print”314, “save” 315, and “cut and paste” 316. A dependency relation of theacts which can be performed in the browser display type contents is asfollows. The “view” 312 is a prerequisite condition as for the “print”314 and “save” 315, respectively. That is, unless there is an authorityto see the digital contents 101, the digital contents 101 cannot beprinted and saved. The “save” 315 is a prerequisite condition as for the“cut and paste” 316. That is, unless there is an authority to save thedigital contents 101, the digital contents 101 cannot be cut and pasted.

The logical act restriction 320 on the cyber mall client 130 sidecomprises an application 321 and an act 325. The application 321 is ause object of the digital contents 101 and includes a commercial use 322and a personal use 323. The act 325 is an act which is executed for thedigital contents 101 and includes “sales delivery” 326, “copy” 327,“adapt” 328, and “print” 329. A dependency relation between the physicalact restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side and the logicalact restriction 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side is as follows. The“copy” 327 is a prerequisite condition as for “adapt” 328. That is,unless there is an authority to copy the digital contents 101, thedigital contents 101 cannot be processed. The “save” 315 is aprerequisite condition as for the “copy” 327. That is, unless there isan authority to save the digital contents 101, the digital contents 101cannot be copied. The “cut and paste” 316 is a prerequisite condition asfor the “adapt” 328. That is, unless there is an authority to cut andpaste the digital contents 101, the digital contents 101 cannot beprocessed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the relation among theattributes which are defined when the digital contents 101 areregistered as goods into the cyber mall server 110. Reference numeral102 denotes the digital contents goods attributes; 103 the digitalcontents value; and 104 the digital contents using conditions. Asdigital contents goods attributes 102, for example, there are a goodsname of the digital contents 101 and the kind of digital contents 101.As a digital contents value 103, there are an approval 411 to anagreement of the digital contents using conditions as a contractregarding the use of the digital contents 101, digital contents customerinformation 412 as personal information (for example, a name and anelectronic mail address) of the customer of the digital contents 101,and a goods price 413 of the digital contents 101. The digital contentsusing conditions 104 comprise the access control 300 on the cyber mallserver 110 side, the physical act restriction 310 on the cyber mallclient 130 side, and the logical act restriction 320 on the cyber mallclient 130 side.

The digital contents 101 are registered as one goods by a combination ofthe digital contents goods attributes 102, digital contents value 103,and digital contents using conditions 104. Therefore, even if thedigital contents goods attributes 102 are the same, by defining thedifferent digital contents value 103 or digital contents usingconditions 104, the digital contents 101 can be registered as aplurality of goods.

A goods defining step of the digital contents 101 will now be describedwith reference to a flowchart of FIG. 5. The goods defining step is asfollows. In the embodiment, it is now assumed that the shop managerinteractively inputs the goods definition by using the cyber shop client100.

First, the cyber shop client 100 transmits a goods definition pagerequest command to the cyber mall server 110 (501). The cyber mallserver 110 receives the goods definition page request command (502) andgenerates a goods definition page (503) and, thereafter, transmits thegoods definition page to the cyber shop client 100 (504). After thegoods definition page was received (505), the cyber shop client 100displays the goods definition page (506). FIG. 6 shows an example of thegoods definition page.

The shop manager inputs goods definition information of the digitalcontents 101 by using the goods definition page (507). In the goodsdefinition page, definition information of the digital contents goodsattributes 102 and digital contents value 103 are inputted. In theembodiment, it is assumed that an image file of an apple is registeredas goods. “apple” is set as a goods name 601 as digital contents goodsattributes 102. “¥100” is set as a goods price 602 serving as a goodsprice 413 of the digital contents 101. An electronic mail address 604 isset as digital contents customer information 412. “necessary” 608 is setas an approval 411 of the agreement.

After completion of the input, by pressing a transmission button 610,the cyber shop client 100 transmits the goods definition information tothe cyber mall server 110 (508). The cyber mall server 110 receives thegoods definition information (509), generates a digital contents usingcondition definition page (510), and thereafter, transmits the digitalcontents using condition definition page to the cyber shop client 100(511). After the digital contents using condition definition page wasreceived (512), the cyber shop client 100 displays the digital contentsusing condition definition page (513). FIG. 7 shows an example of thedigital contents using condition definition page.

The shop manager inputs the digital contents using conditions 104 byusing the digital contents using condition definition page. First, theaccess control 300 on the cyber mall server 110 side is set (514). Inthe period setting, there are three kinds of periods comprising arelative term 701, an absolute term 702, and non-limitation 703. In therelative term 701, a period of time during which it is possible toaccess to the digital contents 101 from the purchase date of the digitalcontents 101. In the absolute term 702, the last date when it ispossible to access to the purchased digital contents 101 is set. Whenthe period setting is not provided, the non-limitation 703 is selected.In this example, the non-limitation 703 is selected.

Subsequently, the logical act restriction 320 of the digital contents onthe cyber mall client 130 side is set (515). First, as an expressingmethod of the digital contents 101, any one of “view” 704, “execute”705, and “replay” 706 is selected. The “view” 704 is selected in case ofthe browser non-display type contents. The “execute” 705 is selected incase of the browser display type contents. The “replay” 706 is selectedin case of the stream type contents. In the embodiment, the “view” 704is selected because the goods to be registered are an image file.

Either a personal use 707 or a commercial use 708 is now selected as anapplication permission of the digital contents 101. In case ofpersonally using the digital contents 101, the personal use 707 isselected. In case of commercially using the digital contents 101, thecommercial use 708 is selected. In this example, the personal use 707 isselected.

As a use permission range of the digital contents 101, a relevant itemis selected from “inhibit sales delivery (commercial use) 709, “permitsales delivery (commercial use) 710, “inhibit copy” 711, “permit copy”712, “inhibit processing” 713, “permit processing” 714, “inhibitprinting” 715, and “permit printing” 716. In this example, the “inhibitsales delivery (commercial use) 709, “permit copy” 712, “inhibitprocessing” 713, and “permit printing” 716 are selected.

The presence or absence of the forced exercise of the logical actrestriction 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side is subsequently set.Either “forcedly exercise” 717 or “not forcedly exercise” 718 isselected here. When the “forcedly exercise” 717 is selected, thephysical act restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side which isnot contradictory to the logical act restriction 320 on the cyber mallclient 130 side which was set is set. In this example, the “forcedlyexercise” 717 is selected.

Finally, additional items are set (516). In case of setting usingconditions other than the foregoing selection items, additional usingconditions are inputted to the additional items 719.

When a transmission button 720 is pressed after completion of the input,the cyber shop client 100 transmits the input information to the cybermall server 110 (517). The cyber mall server 110 receives the inputinformation (518). The digital contents using condition definitionprocessing unit 212 generates an entry into the digital contents usingcondition table 214 (519). The digital contents goods definitionprocessing unit 211 generates an entry into the digital contents goodsmanagement table 213 (520).

FIG. 8 is an example of an entry of the digital contents goodsmanagement table 213. As typical fields of the table, there are: a goodsname 801 of the digital contents; a member shop ID 802 as an ID of thecyber shop; a using condition ID 803 as an identifier of the usingconditions defined for the digital contents 101; a price 804 as a goodsprice 413 of the digital contents 101; and customer information 805 asdigital contents customer information 412.

In this example, “apple” of the goods name 601 inputted by the shopmanager by using the goods definition page in FIG. 6 is allocated to thegoods name 801. The ID of the cyber shop is allocated to the member shopID 802. A using condition ID 901 which is automatically given in thedigital contents using condition table 214 is allocated to the usingcondition ID 803. “¥100” of the goods price 602 inputted by the shopmanager by using the goods definition page in FIG. 6 is allocated to theprice 804. “electronic mail address” of 604 is allocated to the customerinformation 805.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an entry in the digital contents usingcondition table 214. As typical fields of the table, there are: theusing condition ID 901 as an identifier of the using conditions definedfor the digital contents 101; a server access right 902 showing thepresence or absence of the access control which is performed on thecyber mall server 110 side; a relative term 903 as a term in the casewhere a relative access period control is executed on the cyber mallserver 110 side; a relative term unit 904 as a unit (for example, monthor day) of the relative term; a gentleman's agreement application 905 asan application which is defined by the logical act restriction 320 onthe cyber mall client side; a gentleman's agreement act 906 which isdefined by the logical act restriction 320 on the cyber mall client sideand is an act which can be performed for the digital contents 101; and aforced exercise 907 showing the presence or absence of the physical actrestriction 310 on the cyber mall client side.

In this example, the using condition ID 901 is automatically given bythe using condition processing unit. The non-limitation 703, personaluse 707, copy 712, printing 716, and forcedly exercise 717 which wereinputted by the shop manager by using the using condition definitionpicture plane in FIG. 7 are allocated to the server access right 902,gentleman's agreement application 905, gentleman's agreement act 906,and forced exercise 907, respectively. Since non-limitation 703 has beenset for the server access right 902, nothing is allocated to therelative term 903 and relative term unit 904.

A step of purchasing the digital contents lot will now be described withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 10. In this embodiment, it is assumedthat the customer purchases the image file of the apple which has beenregistered as goods in the flowchart of FIG. 5 by using the cyber mallclient 130. The purchasing step is as follows.

First, the customer performs a log-in to the cyber mall (1001). FIG. 14is an example of a log-in picture plane. At the time of log-in, after auser ID 1401 and a password 1402 were inputted, a log-in button 1403 ispressed.

After the log-in, the digital contents 101 to be purchased in the mallis searched (1002). FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing detailed processes instep 1002.

The cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page request command of thelog-in user as a customer to the cyber mall server 110 (1101). The toppage is a page of the log-in user himself/herself which is firstdisplayed after the log-in to the cyber mall was performed. The cybermall server 110 receives the top page request command of the log-in user(1102), generates the top page of the log-in user (1103), and afterthat, transmits the top page of the log-in user to the cyber mall client130 (1104). After the top page of the log-in user was received (1105),the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the log-in user(1106). FIG. 15 shows an example of the top page for the log-in user.

In the embodiment, since the image file is purchased, in this page, thelog-in user selects an image shop list 1501 (1107). The cyber mallclient 130 transmits an image shop list page request command to thecyber mall server 110 (1108). The cyber mall server 110 receives theimage shop list page request command (1109), generates an image shoplist page (1110), and thereafter, transmits the image shop list page tothe cyber mall client 130 (1111). After the image shop list page wasreceived (1112), the cyber mall client 130 displays the image shop listpage (1113). FIG. 16 shows an example of the top page for the log-inuser.

In this page, one image shop is selected from the image shop list. Thelog-in user selects an image shop CardHouse 1601 (1114). The cyber mallclient 130 transmits a CardHouse top page request command to the cybermall server 110 (1115). The cyber mall server 110 receives the CardHousetop page request command (1116), generates a CardHouse top page (1117),and thereafter, transmits the CardHouse top page to the cyber mallclient 130 (1118). After the CardHouse top page was received (1119), thecyber mall client 130 displays the CardHouse top page (1120). FIG. 17shows an example of the CardHouse top page.

In this page, one menu is selected to search an image file to bepurchased. The log-in user selects a recent popular image 1701 (1121).The cyber mall client 130 transmits a request command of the recentpopular image page to the cyber mall server 110 (1122). The cyber mallserver 110 receives the recent popular image page request command(1123), generates a recent popular image page (1124), and thereafter,transmits the recent popular image page to the cyber mall client 130(1125). After the recent popular image page was received (1126), thecyber mall client 130 displays the recent popular image page (1127).FIG. 18 shows an example of the recent popular image page.

In this page, one image to be purchased is selected. The log-in userpresses a purchase button 1802 below an image 1801 of an apple to bepurchased (1128). In this manner, the processes of the flowchart of FIG.11 are finished.

The cyber mall client 130 transmits information of the digital contents101 to be purchased by the log-in user to the cyber mall server 110(1003). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information of thedigital contents 101 to be purchased by the log-in user (1004) andretrieves the digital contents using conditions 104 from the digitalcontents using condition table 214 on the basis of the receivedinformation (1005).

The cyber mall server 110 generates a page to explain an abstract of thedigital contents using conditions on the basis of the digital contentsusing conditions 104 (1006) and, after that, transmits the digitalcontents using condition abstract explanation page to the cyber mallclient 130 (1007). After the digital contents using condition abstractexplanation page was received (1008), the cyber mall client 130 displaysthe digital contents using condition abstract explanation page (1009).FIG. 19 shows an example of the digital contents using conditionabstract explanation page.

The log-in user reads an abstract 1901 of the using conditions of animage to be purchased and presses an agree button 1902 if he/she agreeswith the using conditions (1010). If the log-in user does not agree,he/she clicks a refuse button 1903 and finishes the processes.

When the agree button 1902 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130transmits a message showing that the log-in user agreed with theabstract 1901 of the using conditions to the cyber mall server 110(1011). After agreement information was received (1012), the cyber mallserver 110 generates a digital contents using condition agreementexplanation page (1013) on the basis of the digital contents usingconditions 104 and, after that, transmits the digital contents usingcondition agreement explanation page to the cyber mall client 130(1014). After the digital contents using condition agreement explanationpage was received (1015), the cyber mall client 130 displays the digitalcontents using condition agreement explanation page (1016). FIG. 20shows an example of the digital contents using condition agreementexplanation page.

The log-in user reads an agreement 2001 of the using conditions of animage to be purchased and presses an agree button 2002 (1017) if he/sheagrees with the contents of the agreement. If the log-in user does notagree, he/she clicks a refuse button 2003 and finishes the processes.

When the agree button 2002 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130transmits a message showing that the log-in user agreed with theagreement 2001 of the using conditions to the cyber mall server 110(1018). After agreement information was received (1019), the cyber mallserver 110 retrieves the goods price 413 of the digital contents and thedigital contents customer information 412 from the digital contentsgoods management table 213 (1020). The digital contents value collectionprocessing unit 216 settles the purchase price on the basis of the goodsprice 413 of the digital contents (1021). FIG. 12 is a flowchart showinga detailed process in step 1020. In the embodiment, a settlement isperformed by using a credit card.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a purchase price settlement page(1201) and transmits the purchase price settlement page to the cybermall client 130 (1202). After the purchase price settlement page wasreceived (1203), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase pricesettlement page (1204). FIG. 21 shows an example of the purchase pricesettlement page.

On the purchase price settlement page, the log-in user inputs a kind ofcredit card 2101, a credit card number 2102, a valid term 2103 of thecredit card, and a name of card owner 2104 and presses a settlementbutton 2105 (1205). When the settlement button 2105 is pressed, thecyber mall client 130 transmits settlement information inputted to thecyber mall server 110 (1206). After the settlement information wasreceived (1207), the cyber mall server 110 executes a settlement processof the credit card (1208). In this manner, the processes of theflowchart of FIG. 12 are finished.

When the settlement process of the purchase price is normally finished,the digital contents value collection processing unit 216 collects thedigital contents customer information 412. The cyber mall server 110generates a customer information input page on the basis of the digitalcontents customer information 412 (1022) and, after that, transmits thecustomer information input page to the cyber mall client 130 (1023).After the customer information input page was received (1024), the cybermall client 130 displays the customer information input page (1025).FIG. 22 shows an example of the customer information input page.

The log-in user inputs an electronic mail address 2201 and presses atransmission button 2202 (1026). When the transmission button 2202 ispressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the customer informationinputted to the cyber mall server 110 (1027). The cyber mall server 110receives the customer information (1028). The digital contents personalusing condition definition processing unit 215 generates an entry intothe digital contents personal using condition management table 217(1029). The digital contents value collection processing unit 216generates an entry into the customer information management table 218(1030).

FIG. 24 shows an example of the entry of the digital contents personalusing condition management table 217. As typical fields of the table,there are: a user ID 2401 as an identifier of the user who purchased thedigital contents 101; a personal using condition ID 2402 as anidentifier of the digital contents personal using conditions given tothe digital contents customer; a goods name 2403 of the purchaseddigital contents 101; a member shop name 2404 of a member shop who soldthe purchased digital contents 101; a purchase date 2405 as a date ofpurchase of the digital contents 101; a valid term 2406 as a term whenit is possible to access to the purchased digital contents 101; and ausing condition situation 2407 as a situation (for example, valid,out-of valid, etc.) of the using conditions.

In this example, the user ID 1401 inputted when the log-in is performedto the cyber mall is allocated to the user ID 2401. An identifier whichis automatically given by the digital contents personal using conditiondefinition processing unit 215 is allocated to the personal usingcondition ID 2402. The goods name 801 in the entry of the digitalcontents goods management table 213 in FIG. 8 is allocated to the goodsname 2403. The member shop ID 802 is allocated to the member shop name2404. The purchase date of the digital contents 101 is allocated to thepurchase date 2405. A valid term is calculated on the basis of the terminformation of the entry of the using condition table 214 in FIG. 9 andis allocated to the valid term 2406. In this example, since the serveraccess right 902 is set to “non-limitation”, “indefinite” is allocatedto the valid term 2406. The using condition situation 2407 is set to“valid”. The value of the using condition situation 2406 can be set to“out-of term” or “invalid” besides “valid”.

FIG. 25 shows an example of the entry of the user information managementtable. As typical fields of the table, there are: a user name 2501 as aname of the user who purchased the digital contents 101; an electronicmail address 2502 as an electronic mail address of the user whopurchased the digital contents 101; an address 2503 as an address of theuser who purchased the digital contents 101; and a telephone number 2504as a telephone number of the user who purchased the digital contents101. In this example, the electronic mail address 2201 inputted by thecustomer information input page of FIG. 22 is allocated to theelectronic mail address 2502.

Finally, the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital contents 101which the log-in user purchased (1031). FIG. 13 is a flowchart showingthe detailed processes in step 1031. In this example, since thepurchased digital contents 101 are the image file, the cyber mall server110 delivers a copy of the image file to the cyber mall client 130.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a delivery start page of thepurchase image (1301) and transmits the delivery start page of thepurchase image to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After the deliverystart page of the purchase image was received (1303), the cyber mallclient 130 displays the delivery start page of the purchase image(1304). FIG. 23 shows an example of the delivery start page of thepurchase image.

When the log-in user presses a download button 2301 as a delivery startbutton of the purchase image (1305), the cyber mall client 130 transmitsa digital contents delivery request-command to the cyber mall server 110(1306). After the cyber mall server 110 received the digital contentsdelivery request command (1307), the downloader 117 delivers thedelivery article 116 in which the information of the physical actrestriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side has been built in thecopy of the digital contents 101 as a purchase image to the cyber mallclient 130 (1308).

The cyber mall client 130 receives the delivery article (1309) and thedigital contents purchasing process is finished. In the cyber mallclient 130, the digital contents 101 in the delivery article 116 aredisplayed by the viewer 132. The viewer 132 is controlled by theinformation of the physical act restriction 310 on the cyber mall client130 side built in the delivery article 116. In this manner, theprocesses in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 10 are finished.

A case of purchasing “daily stock prices information of 3 months” inwhich the digital contents 101 are one of news services will now bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10. A digital contentspurchasing step is as follows.

First, the customer performs a log-in to the cyber mall (1001). FIG. 14shows an example of a log-in picture. At the time of log-in, after theuser ID 1401 and password 1402 were inputted, the log-in button 1403 ispressed.

After the log-in, the digital contents 101 to be purchased in the mallare searched (1002). FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing detailed processesin step 1002.

The cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page request command of thelog-in user as a customer to the cyber mall server 110 (2601). The toppage is a page of the log-in user himself/herself which is firstdisplayed after the log-in was performed to the cyber mall. The cybermall server 110 receives the top page request command of the log-in user(2602), generates a top page of the log-in user (2603), and thereafter,transmits the top page of the log-in user to the cyber mall client 130(2604). After the top page of the log-in user was received (2605), thecyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the log-in user (2606).FIG. 15 shows an example of the top page for the log-in user.

In this example, since the stock prices news is purchased, in this page,the log-in user selects a news subscribing service list 1502 (2607). Thecyber mall client 130 transmits a news subscribing service list pagerequest command to the cyber mall server 110 (2608). The cyber mallserver 110 receives the news subscribing service list page requestcommand (2609), generates a news subscribing service list page (2610),and thereafter, transmits the news subscribing service list page to thecyber mall client 130 (2611). After the news subscribing service listpage was received (2612), the cyber mall client 130 displays the newssubscribing service list page (2613). FIG. 27 shows an example of thenews subscribing service list page.

In this page, one of news services is selected from the news subscribingservice list. The log-in user selects a stock prices news 2701 (2614).The cyber mall client 130 transmits a stock prices news top page requestcommand to the cyber mall server 110 (2615). The cyber mall server 110receives the stock prices news top page request command (2616),generates a stock prices news top page (2617), and thereafter, transmitsthe stock prices news top page to the cyber mall client 130 (2618).After the stock prices news top page was received (2619), the cyber mallclient 130 displays the stock prices news top page (2620). FIG. 28 showsan example of the stock prices news top page.

In this page, one menu is selected to search the stock prices news to bepurchased. The log-in user selects daily stock prices information 2801(2621). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a daily stock pricesinformation page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (2622).The cyber mall server 110 receives the daily stock prices informationpage request command (2623), generates a daily stock prices informationpage (2624), and thereafter, transmits the daily stock pricesinformation page to the cyber mall client 130 (2625). After the dailystock prides information page was received (2626), the cyber mall client130 displays the daily stock prices information page (2627). FIG. 29shows an example of the daily stock prices information page.

In this page, one subscribing period of the daily stock pricesinformation to be purchased is selected. The log-in user presses apurchase button 2902 beside a 3-month subscription 2901 to be purchased(2628). In this manner, the processes in the flowchart of FIG. 26 arefinished.

The cyber mall client 130 transmits the information of the digitalcontents 101 to be purchased by the log-in user to the cyber mall server110 (1003). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information of thedigital contents 101 to be purchased by the log-in user (1004) andsearches the digital contents using conditions 104 from the digitalcontents using condition table 214 on the basis of the receivedinformation (1005).

The cyber mall server 110 generates a digital contents using conditionabstract explanation page on the basis of the digital contents usingconditions 104 (1006) and, thereafter, transmits the digital contentsusing condition abstract explanation page to the cyber mall client 130(1007). After the digital contents using condition abstract explanationpage was received (1008), the cyber mall client 130 displays the digitalcontents using condition abstract explanation page (1009). FIG. 30 showsan example of the digital contents using condition abstract explanationpage.

The log-in user reads an abstract 3001 of the using conditions of theimage to be purchased and presses an agree button 3002 if he/she agreeswith the using conditions (1010). If the log-in user does not agree,he/she clicks a refuse button 3003 and finishes the processes.

When the agree button 1902 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130transmits a message indicating that the log-in user agreed with theabstract 1901 of the using conditions to the cyber mall server 110(1011). After the agreement information was received (1012), the cybermall server 110 generates a digital contents using condition agreementexplanation page on the basis of the digital contents using conditions104 (1013) and, thereafter, transmits the digital contents usingcondition agreement explanation page to the cyber mall client 130(1014). After the digital contents using condition agreement explanationpage was received (1015), the cyber mall client 130 displays the digitalcontents using condition agreement explanation page (1016). FIG. 31shows an example of the digital contents using condition agreementexplanation page.

The log-in user reads an agreement 3101 of the using conditions of animage to be purchased and presses an agree button 3102 if he/she agreeswith the contents of the agreement (1017). If the log-in user does notagree, he/she clicks a refuse button 3103 and finishes the processes.

When the agree button 3102 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130transmits a message showing that the log-in user agreed with theagreement 2001 of the using conditions to the cyber mall server 110(1018). After the agreement information was received (1019), the cybermall server 110 retrieves the goods price 413 of the digital contentsand the digital contents customer information 412 from the digitalcontents goods management table 213 (1020). The digital contents valuecollection processing unit 216 settles the purchase price on the basisof the goods price 413 of the digital contents (1021). FIG. 12 is aflowchart showing detailed processes in step 1021. In the embodiment,the settlement is performed by using a credit card.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a purchase price settlement page(1201) and transmits the purchase price settlement page to the cybermall client 130 (1202). After the purchase price settlement page wasreceived (1203), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase pricesettlement page (1204). FIG. 32 shows an example of the purchase pricesettlement page.

The log-in user inputs a kind 3201 of credit card, a credit card number3202, a valid term 3203 of the credit card, and a name 3204 of cardowner by using the purchase price settlement page and presses asettlement button 3205 (1205). When the settlement button 3205 ispressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the inputted settlementinformation to the cyber mall server 110 (1206). After the settlementinformation was received (1207), the cyber mall server 110 executes asettlement process of the credit card (1208). In this manner, theprocesses in the flowchart of FIG. 12 are finished.

When the settlement process of the purchase price is normally finished,the digital contents value collection processing unit 216 collects thedigital contents customer information 412. The cyber mall server 110generates a customer information input page on the basis of the digitalcontents customer information 412 (1022) and, thereafter transmits thecustomer information input page to the cyber mall client 130 (1023).After the customer information input page was received (1024), the cybermall client 130 displays the customer information input page (1025).FIG. 33 shows an example of the customer information input page.

The log-in user inputs a name 3301 and an electronic mail address 3302and presses a transmission button 3303 (1026). When the transmissionbutton 3303 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the inputtedcustomer information to the cyber mall server 110 (1027). The cyber mallserver 110 receives the customer information (1028). The digitalcontents personal using condition definition processing unit 215generates an entry into the digital contents personal using conditionmanagement table 217 (1029). The digital contents value collectionprocessing unit 216 generates an entry into the customer informationmanagement table 218 (1030).

FIG. 35 shows an example of the entry of the digital contents personalusing condition management table 217. As typical fields of the table,there are: a user ID 3501 as an identifier of the user who purchased thedigital contents 101; a personal using condition ID 3502 as anidentifier of the digital contents personal using conditions given tothe customer of the digital contents; a goods name 3503 of the purchaseddigital contents 101; a member shop name 3504 of a member shop whichsold the purchased digital contents 101; a purchase date 3505 as a dateof purchase of the digital contents 101; a valid term 3506 as a termduring which it is possible to access to the purchased digital contents101; and a using condition situation 3507 as a situation (for example,validity, out-of term, etc.) of the using conditions.

In this example, the user ID 1401 inputted when the log-in is performedto the cyber mall is allocated to the user ID 3501.

An identifier which is automatically given by the digital contentspersonal using condition definition processing unit 215 is allocated tothe personal using condition ID 3502. The goods name “daily stock pricesinformation of 3 months” in the entry of the present goods in thedigital contents goods management table 213 is allocated to the goodsname 3503. A member shop name “stock prices news” is allocated to themember shop name 3504. The date of purchase of the digital contents 101is allocated to the purchase date 3505. A valid term is calculated onthe basis of the term information of the entry in the using conditiontable 214 and allocated to the valid term 3506. In this example, theserver access right is set to “limitation”, the relative term is set to3, and the relative term unit is set to month. Therefore, the dateobtained by adding 3 months to the purchase date is allocated to thevalid term 3506. The using condition situation 3507 is set to “valid”.

FIG. 36 shows an example of the entry of the user information managementtable. As typical fields of the table, there are: a user name 3601 as aname of the user who purchased the digital contents 101; an electronicmail address 3602 as an electronic mail address of the user whopurchased the digital contents 101; an address 3603 as an address of theuser who purchased the digital contents 101; and a telephone number 3604as a telephone number of the user who purchased the digital contents101. In this example, the name 3301 inputted by the customer informationinput page in FIG. 33 is allocated to the user name 3601. The electronicmail address 3302 is allocated to the electronic mail address 3602.

Finally, the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital contents 101which the log-in user purchased (1031). FIG. 13 is a flowchart showingthe detailed processes in step 1030. In this example, since thepurchased digital contents 101 are the news service, the cyber mallserver 110 enables the cyber mall client 130 to view the WWW page inwhich the daily stock prices information is displayed.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a delivery start page of thepurchase news service (1301) and transmits the delivery start page ofthe news service to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After the deliverystart page of the news service was received (1303), the cyber mallclient 130 displays the delivery start page of the news service (1304).FIG. 34 shows an example of the delivery start page of the news service.

When the log-in user presses a view button 3401 as a delivery startbutton of the news service (1305), the cyber mall client 130 transmits adigital contents delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110(1306). After the digital contents delivery request command was received(1307), the cyber mall server 110 delivers the WWW page in which thedaily stock prices information is displayed (1308).

In the cyber mall client 130, the delivered WWW page is displayed (1309)and the digital contents purchasing process is finished. In this manner,the processes in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 10 are finished. Asmentioned above, even if the kinds of digital contents differ, thepurchasing steps are the same.

A re-purchasing step of the digital contents 101 when the delivery ofthe purchased digital contents 101 fails will now be made with referenceto a flowchart of FIG. 37. In the embodiment, the image file purchasedin the flowchart of FIG. 10 is again purchased. The re-purchasing stepof the digital contents 101 is as follows.

First, the customer performs a log-in to the cyber mall (3701). FIG. 14shows an example of the log-in picture. At the time of log-in, after theuser ID 1401 and password 1402 were inputted, the log-in button 1403 ispressed.

After the log-in; the cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page requestcommand of the log-in user to the cyber mall server 110 (3702). Thecyber mall server 110 receives the top page request command of thelog-in user (3703), generates a top page of the log-in user (3704), andthereafter, transmits the top page of the log-in user to the cyber mallclient 130 (3705). After the top page of the log-in user was received(3706), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the log-inuser (3707). FIG. 15 shows an example of the top page picture for thelog-in user.

When the digital contents 101 are again purchased, the log-in userselects the personal using condition list 1504 (3708). The cyber mallclient 130 transmits a personal using condition list page requestcommand to the cyber mall server 110 (3709). The cyber mall server 110receives the personal using condition list page request command (3710).The digital contents personal using condition retrieval processing unit219 retrieves the digital contents personal using condition managementtable 217 on the basis of the user ID of the log-in user and extractsthe personal using conditions of all of the digital contents which thelog-in user purchased (3711). The cyber mall server 110 generates apersonal using condition list page on the basis of the extracted digitalcontents personal using conditions (3712) and, thereafter, transmits thepersonal using condition list page to the cyber mall client 130 (3713).After the personal using condition list page was received (3714), thecyber mall client 130 displays the personal using condition list page(3715). FIG. 38 shows an example of the personal using condition listpage.

In the first line of the personal using condition list, information ofthe entry in the digital contents personal using condition managementtable 217 in FIG. 24 is displayed. In the second line, information ofthe entry in the digital contents personal using condition managementtable 217 in FIG. 35 is displayed.

The member shop name 2404 is displayed in 3801. The personal usingcondition ID 2402 is displayed in 3802. The goods name 2403 is displayedin 3803. The valid term 2406 is displayed in 3804. The member shop name3504 is displayed in 3806. The personal using condition ID 3502 isdisplayed in 3807. The goods name 3503 is displayed in 3808. The validterm 3506 is displayed in 3809. The delivering method of the purchaseddigital contents 101 is displayed in 3805 and 3810. The reason why“download” is displayed in 3805 is because the image file is the digitalcontents of the kind which is delivered to the customer. The reason why“read” is displayed in 3810 is because the daily stock pricesinformation is the digital contents of the kind in which the WWW page isviewed.

The log-in user selects the accessing method 3805 to the image file inwhich the delivery fails (3716). The cyber mall client 130 transmits theinformation of the selected digital contents personal using condition tothe cyber mall server 110 (3717). After the information of the selecteddigital contents personal using condition was received (3718), the cybermall server 110 executes a server side access control on the basis ofthe valid term 2406 of the selected digital contents personal usingcondition (3719). When the valid term 2406 lies within the term and theusing condition situation 2407 of the selected digital contents personalusing condition is valid (3720), the cyber mall server 110 delivers thedigital contents (3722). When the using condition situation of theselected digital contents personal using conditions is not valid andwhen the valid term 2406 does not lie within the term, the cyber mallserver 110 does not deliver the digital contents 101 (3721).

A flowchart showing the detailed processes in step 3722 is the flowchartof FIG. 13. In this example, since the digital contents 101 which areagain purchased are the image file, the cyber mall server 110 delivers acopy of the image file to the cyber mall client 130.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a delivery start page of thepurchase image (1301) and transmits the delivery start page of thepurchase image to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After the deliverystart page of the purchase image was received (1303), the cyber mallclient 130 displays the delivery start page of the purchase image(1304). FIG. 23 shows an example of the delivery start page of thepurchase image.

When the log-in user presses the download button 2301 as a deliverystart button of the purchase image (1305), the cyber mall client 130transmits a digital contents delivery request command to the cyber mallserver 110 (1306). After cyber mall server 110 received the digitalcontents delivery request command (1307), the downloader 117 deliversthe delivery article 116 obtained by building the information of thephysical act restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side into thecopy of the digital contents 101 as a purchase image to the cyber mallclient 130 (1308).

The cyber mall client 130 receives the delivery article (1309) and thedigital contents purchasing process is finished. In the cyber mallclient 130, the digital contents 101 in the delivery article 116 isdisplayed by the viewer 132. The viewer 132 is controlled by theinformation of the physical act restriction 310 on the cyber mall client130 side built in the delivery article 116. In this manner, theprocesses in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 37 are finished.

A re-purchasing step when the delivery of the news service purchased inthe flowchart of FIG. 10 fails will now be described with reference tothe flowchart of FIG. 37. The re-purchasing step is as follows.

First, the customer performs a log-in to the cyber mall (3701). FIG. 14shows an example of the log-in picture. At the time of log-in, after theuser ID 1401 and password 1402 were inputted, the log-in button 1403 ispressed.

After the log-in, the cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page requestcommand of the log-in user to the cyber mall server 110 (3702). Thecyber mall server 110 receives the top page request command of thelog-in user (3703), generates a top page of the log-in user (3704), andthereafter, transmits the top page of the log-in user to the cyber mallclient 130 (3705). After the top page of the log-in user was received(3706), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the log-inuser (37071). FIG. 15 shows an example of the top page picture plane forthe log-in user.

When the digital contents 101 are again purchased, the log-in userselects the personal using condition list 1504 (3708). The cyber mallclient 130 transmits a personal using condition list page requestcommand to the cyber mall server 110 (3709). The cyber mall server 110receives the personal using condition list page request command (3710).The digital contents personal using condition retrieval processing unit219 retrieves the digital contents personal using condition managementtable 217 on the basis of the user ID of the log-in user and extractsthe personal using conditions of all of the digital contents which thelog-in user purchased (3711). The cyber mall server 110 generates apersonal using condition list page on the basis of the extracted digitalcontents personal using conditions (3712) and, thereafter, transmits thepersonal using condition list page to the cyber mall client 130 (3713).After the personal using condition list page was received (3714), thecyber mall client 130 displays the personal using condition list page(3715). FIG. 38 shows an example of the personal using condition listpage.

The log-in user selects the delivering method 3810 to the news servicein which the delivery fails (3716). The cyber mall client 130 transmitsthe information of the selected digital contents personal usingcondition to the cyber mall server 110 (3717). After the information ofthe selected digital contents personal using condition was received(3718), the cyber mall server 110 executes a server side access controlon the basis of the valid term 3506 of the selected digital contentspersonal using condition (3719). When the valid term 3506 lies withinthe term and the using condition situation 3507 of the selected digitalcontents personal using condition is valid (3720), the cyber mall server110 delivers the digital contents (3722). When the using conditionsituation of the selected digital contents personal using condition isnot valid and when the valid term 3506 does not lie within the term, thecyber mall server 110 does not deliver the digital contents 101 (3721).

A flowchart showing the detailed processes in step 3722 is the flowchartof FIG. 13. In this example, since the digital contents 101 which areagain purchased are the news service, the cyber mall server 110 enablesthe cyber mall client 130 to view the WWW page in which the daily stockprices information is displayed.

The cyber mall server 110 generates a delivery start page of the newsservice (1301) and transmits the delivery start page of the news serviceto the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After the delivery start page ofthe news service was received (1303), the cyber mall client 130 displaysthe delivery start page of the news service (1304). FIG. 34 shows anexample of the delivery start page of the news service.

When the log-in user presses the view button 3401 as a delivery startbutton of the news service (1305), the cyber mall client 130 transmits adigital contents delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110(1306). After cyber mall server 110 received the digital contentsdelivery request command (1307), the WWW page in which the daily stockprices information is displayed is delivered (1308).

In the cyber mall client 130, the delivered WWW page is displayed (1309)and the digital contents purchasing process is finished. In this manner,the processes in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 37 are finished. Even ifthe kinds of digital contents differ, the re-purchasing steps are thesame.

According to the invention as described above, by using the digitalcontents using conditions and the personal using conditions, even if thedelivery of the purchased digital contents fails, when the digitalcontents are again purchased, the digital contents are again deliveredby merely selecting the digital contents in which the re-delivery isdesired from the personal using condition list of the digital contentsgiven to the customer. If the personal using conditions of the selecteddigital contents are valid, the digital contents are again deliveredwithout again paying the goods price. When the digital contents areagain purchased, since the customer information inputted as one of thevalues of the digital contents has been accumulated in the customerinformation management table at the time of purchase of the digitalcontents, there is no need to again input the customer information.Those procedures are the same irrespective of the kind of digitalcontents. Therefore, a use efficiency of the cyber mall system isimproved for the customer.

Since the value generally changes depending on the using conditions inthe sales of the digital contents, by defining the using conditions ofdifferent act restrictions and the value according to each usingcondition to the same digital contents, the sales and viewing accordingto each of the using conditions of the digital contents are realized.

According to the invention, not only a goods catalog of the digitalcontents can be generated from the goods definition information of thedigital contents but also the digital contents personal using conditionscan be generated and given to the customer, so that there is no need towait for the double information. Consequently, the processes from thesales promotion and order of the digital contents to the settlement canbe executed from the same information without causing any mistake.

1. A digital contents delivery method in a digital contents deliveryserver for delivering digital contents to a user at a client apparatus,the digital contents delivery server being provided with a transmitterfor transmitting the digital contents to the client apparatus coupled tothe digital contents delivery server via a network, comprising the stepsof: receiving, from the client apparatus via the network, a commandinput to deliver digital contents; creating personal using conditioninformation on a digital contents basis each time the digital contentsare purchased, the personal using condition information includinginformation as to delivery control of digital contents from the digitalcontents delivery server to the user, and client-side restrictioninformation which is information as to processing control on userestriction to the digital contents to be executed by the clientapparatus, the personal using condition information thus created beingstored in a digital contents personal using condition management storagein a correspondence relationship manner with the digital contents; inresponse to the purchase of the digital contents, transmitting, by usingthe transmitter to the client apparatus, a delivery object in which theclient-side restriction information is built in the digital contents;receiving, from the client apparatus, a display request input to displaypersonal using condition information having a correspondencerelationship with the user, thereby to display personal using conditioninformation corresponding to the display request input; and enabling thetransmitter to redeliver digital contents in which client-siderestriction information according to the redelivery request input isembedded, when the redelivery request input from the user to redeliverthe digital contents are sensed in connection with the personal usingcondition information thus displayed on the client apparatus, if thepersonal using condition information corresponding to the redeliveryrequest input is valid among the personal using condition informationstored in the digital contents personal using condition managementstorage.
 2. The digital contents delivery method according to claim 1,wherein the digital contents delivery server receives, from the clientapparatus, a login request by the user using the client apparatus, thelogin request including identification information for identifying theuser.
 3. The digital contents delivery method according to claim 1,wherein the client-side restriction information is information forrestricting an act to be performed in the client apparatus.
 4. Thedigital contents delivery method according to claim 3, wherein theclient-side restriction information includes information for controlling“execute”, “replay”, “print”, “save” and “cut-and-paste” operations forthe digital contents.
 5. The digital contents delivery method accordingto claim 1, wherein the personal using condition information furtherincludes information as to access control in the digital contentsdelivery server.
 6. The digital contents delivery method according toclaim 5, wherein the information as to access control includesrestriction of a term or a number of times the digital contents areaccessible.
 7. A digital contents delivery server for delivering digitalcontents to a user at a client apparatus, the digital contents deliveryserver being provided with a transmitter module for transmitting thedigital contents to the client apparatus coupled to the digital contentsdelivery server via a network, comprising: a receiving module forreceiving, from the client apparatus via the network, a command input todeliver digital contents; a creating module for creating personal usingcondition information on a digital contents basis each time the digitalcontents are purchased, the personal using condition informationincluding information as to delivery control of digital contents fromthe digital contents delivery server to the user, and client-siderestriction information which is information as to processing control onuse restriction to the digital contents to be executed by the clientapparatus, the personal using condition information thus created beingstored in a digital contents personal using condition management storagein a correspondence relationship manner with the digital contents; thetransmitter module responsive to the purchase of the digital contents,for transmitting, to the client apparatus, a delivery object in whichthe client-side restriction information is built in the digitalcontents; a display control module for receiving, from the clientapparatus, a display request input to display personal using conditioninformation having a correspondence relationship with the user, therebyto display personal using condition information corresponding to thedisplay request input; and a transmission control module for enablingthe transmitter module to redeliver digital contents in whichclient-side restriction information according to the redelivery requestis embedded, when the redelivery request input from the user toredeliver the digital contents are sensed in connection with thepersonal using condition information thus displayed on the clientapparatus, if the personal using condition information corresponding tothe redelivery request input is valid among the personal using conditioninformation stored in the digital contents personal using conditionmanagement storage.
 8. The digital contents delivery server according toclaim 7, further comprising a further receiving module for receiving,from the client apparatus, a login request by the user using the clientapparatus, the login request including identification information foridentifying the user.
 9. The digital contents delivery server accordingto claim 7, wherein the client-side restriction information isinformation for restricting an act to be performed in the clientapparatus.
 10. The digital contents delivery server according to claim9, wherein the client-side restriction information includes informationfor controlling “execute”, “replay”, “print”, “save” and “cut-and-paste”operations for the digital contents.
 11. The digital contents deliveryserver according to claim 7, wherein the personal using conditioninformation further includes information as to access control in thedigital contents delivery server.
 12. The digital contents deliveryserver according to claim 11, wherein the information as to accesscontrol includes restriction of a term or a number of times the digitalcontents are accessible.